Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Luckoff and Swanson: The Power Players behind the Old KGO Radio

SFGate photo

Mickey Luckoff and Jack Swanson were the brains behind one of the most successful radio stations in the country and certainly, the Bay Area.

KGO was a dominant #1 for 32 straight years, (from 1976-2008). Most of that era was the pre-Citadel and Cumulus days. Corporate cohesion helped KGO maintain its prominence, but it was largely Luckoff and Swanson that helped define the brand and made the station an institution in SF broadcast lore and beyond.

Luckoff was notoriously known for his shrewd and sometimes contentious contract negotiations. His dealings with some of the station's heavy hitters, like Ronn Owens and Jim Dunbar, made the broadcast rounds. He was fierce, he was tough, but most importantly, he was respected. That was a constant that separated Luckoff from his colleagues. At times, it went overboard.

Luckoff and Owens routinely squared off in sometimes bitter battles; Owens wanted a syndication deal and in the early 90's developed a foray into LA radio. His show was extremely popular in the Bay Area but turned into a dud in the southland. (Owens replaced fading KABC's Michael Jackson). But it was soon evident the show didn't resonate. Ratings were worse and Owens would keep his show in the city. Luckoff could have pounced but instead was relatively happy his top player was back exclusively in SF. Luckoff was loyal too: he was the prime facilitator that secured the financial buyouts for some of the station's prime air talent like newswoman, Rosie Allen.

Jack Swanson too helped guide the KGO megaship. He was a hands-on Operations manager but was knowledgeable enough to know not to mess with an already successful venture and won numerous industry respect and admiration for maintaining KGO's extreme steadiness in a business known for its lack of stability. Most of KGO's talk hosts tended to stick around: Owens, for over three decades. The late Lee Rodgers and Jim Eason were longtime talkers. Jim Dunbar and Ted Wygant were longtime news anchor. Allen and Ed Baxter were decades-long constants and that extended itself all the way from traffic reporters to the sports department: Joe Starkey had over 30 years as a sports anchor. Rich Walcoff is nearing his 30th year. Indeed those were the days.

Both men are out of the industry now. Luckoff split for safety in 2010, (in the Citadell days, before the onslaught of Cumulus), but tried, unsuccessfully, to secure a new radio outlet here in the city.

The old KGO built its brand around the idea of local, unique and independent news-talk. It was top-rated, successful, and highly profitable. And while the air talent on the station were its zeitgeist, it was Luckoff and Swanson that helped make the glue stick.

If you don't like the content don't visit the website? I personally enjoy these types of articles. Some of us learn about the history of KGO and the local media landscape via these types of pieces. You have to realize that the visitors to this website probably range in age from 20's through 70's. Being in my mid 30's, I wasn't a regular listener to KGO back in the 80's and 90's. Not to make some of you feel old, but I remember my grandfather listening to Ronn on a daily basis 25 years ago and saying, "You have to listen to this guy". I personally enjoy Ronn. He went out of his way 5 years ago to respond to a birthday wish I had for my brother. He didn't know me. He did it out of the goodness of his heart. Again, if you don't enjoy or agree with something Rich posts, move on to the next posting or visit a different website. You aren't paying for the content here, why complain about something you're getting for free?

I can't wait for 30 years from now when Richie Lieberman Jr. will be writing his blog about the good old days of radio when Cumulus was king and the Dickey brothers really knew how to run the radio business.

Nice overview of the management of KGO back in the day. These guys were the Debartolo/Bill Walsh team of local radio, although their success ran for over 3 decades. When you think about it, that's really amazing, but then, KGO was quite a station in those years!

Thanks Rich for a nice tribute to some true professionals in San Francisco radio. Back in December 2011 when the cumanoids took over, the remaining host rambled on about how the station had “lost its way”. That was laughable. KGO was among the most respected commercial media outlets in the country with on air talent that was largely unequaled anywhere. Yes, I miss the old days. The new format and direction simply do not cut it. Hopefully, the previous format will be eventually resurrected with talented hosts similar to the ABC Radio days. Otherwise, I’m afraid we’re looking at polka music or Reverend Harold Camping.

It still shocks me how Citadel and Cumulus destroyed KGO and KSFO. Sort of like buying a Lamborghini and replacing it's tires and engine with the parts of a Ford Pinto while the schmuck Ronnnnn stands around saying: ”something had to change with that fast, impressive Lamborghini”.....on a separate note, that chef Scott Ryan grates my ears. How does he have a show? The guy thinks he is a GREAT broadcaster. What a disgrace.

One thing about Luckoff and Swanson that really sets them apart from the current, ahem, management: they had their eyes and ears open to the community that they served. The present, ahem, management is devoted only to the corporation they serve. They are disconnected and disinterested in the people of the Bay Area. And that is why we have disconnected them.

Huge respect for these two. I've always been a junkie for mainstream local talk radio and was fortunate during my business career to be located where some of the greats were: WJR in Detroit, WCCO in the Twin Cities, WSB in Atlanta etc. I moved to the Bay Area in 2004 and was in radio heaven listening to Ronn, Pete Wilson and Gene Burns.

The more I learned about Mickey Luckoff and his 30+ years at the helm, the more awe-struck I was by this gem of a station. As it turned out, the GM of the small-market TV station in Michigan where I worked during college had once been Mickey's boss in his Detroit radio days. He was no Mickey Luckoff, but I enjoyed exchanging e-mails with Mickey about the coincidence and had the pleasure of meeting him and his fiance at one of the last KGO "All Star Debate" events he attended. JW

It's sad to see some not appreciate several things in Richs' piece. Appreciation of what KGO meant to The City, and appreciation of being given a gift; the gift of being shown what sustained 'excellence' looks like and the legacy it provides. Change IS good, but change for change sake is hubris.

I appreciate technology and progress, however even in the best scenarios there are unintended consequences. In the case of KGO, those so willing to file us under "Dinosaurs" for the appreciation, fondness, and yes nostalgia for what KGO was, are missing the life experience to understand the import of how that radio station served an amazing metropolitan area.

They are choosing a standard that will leave them behind as soon as they are deemed "irrelevant", and believe me it happens quicker today than ever in the history of the world.

Oh God please let it be true. I heard him yesterday on the morning show with Jenifer Lee Jones BOASTING about how drunk he was at the Chronicle wine competition during last Saturday's show. He was also promoting his upcoming show next Saturday. If indeed his show is cancelled, it may signal there are a few people with brains in management. Next cancellation: Timothy Monte de Manure please!!!!

As bad as other shows are on KGO there is no question that Ryan Scott has the worst one. He's probably the worst performer in the history of KGO. He sounds uneducated. I feel bad for Rich Walcoff having to work with him. Anyone know why he does it?